Gas main stopper



. Jan. 15, 1935. E, A. GOCDMAN GAS MAIN STOPPER Filed Aug. 12, 1933 INVENTOR Zlajafiefluifaoivw n BYKMWQZ" ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 15, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIcE 1 21 Claims;

This invention relates to gas mainstoppers and is an improvement upon a stopper of the type disclosed in a, copending application filed July 21, 1933, bearing Serial No. 681,451.

The present invention is directed to an inn-.- proved means of mounting the stopper in the gas main, which means al'so serves to effectually close and seal the tap hole in the main, the tap hole being utilized for the purpose of introducing the stopper body or diaphragm into the main.

More particularly, the invention comprehends, in a stopper of the indicated character, a handle bar having a medial tubular shank portion upon which a combined tap hole plug and mounting element for the stopper device is arranged in such a manner as to allow for relative sliding and turning movements between the plug and shank, thereby admitting of the movement of the stopper body or diaphragm to an effective sealing position within the main.

Th invention further aims to provide an improved gas main stopper which includes but few and simple parts, capable of economical production and assembly and which functions to efficiently perform its intended purpose.

With these and other objects and advantages in view, which will hereafter be set forth in more detail, reference is now made to the following specification and accompanying drawing, disclosing a preferred form of the invention, which is not intended as a limitation upon the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawing Fig. 1 is a side view of a stopper made up in accordance with the present invention and illustrating the same in full and broken lines in the initial stages of its emplacement in a gas main.

Fig. 2 is a similar View with the handle bar shown in section and picturing in full lines the device in its fully emplaced position.

Referring to the drawing by characters of reference, A designates an expansible gas main stopper body, which may be of any of the usual types now in common use and on the market and which body, in the present disclosure, is of the spring framed diaphragm type, normally inherently of a substantially elongated oval form as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing, to admit of its insertion through the tap hole B of a gas main C, this condition of the diaphragm or stopper body being hereinafter referred to as the contracted condition. After the insertion of the body A through the tap hole B, it is subsequently manually moved to what is known as the expanded position so that it assumes a substantially circular form coincident with the swinging of the same to a position where its periphery intimately contacts and fits with-in th bore of the main, so as to dam or stop the flow of gas therethrough.

The device also includes a handling and manipulating means for the stopper body A which consists of a handle bar designated generally by" the reference character D, which handle bar is connected by a link E to the stopper body A, the link having pivotal connection with the stopper body and: the lower end of the handlebar respectivelymvhile the handle bar is so constructed as to provide suitable stops which limit the swinging of the link upwardly and downwardly. This type of stopper device includes means for swinging the stopper body A and expanding the same, which means is in the form of a flexible element or cable F attached to the stopper body or diaphragm A at a point diametrically opposite the pivotal connection of the link therewith. The handle bar D is so constructed as to permit of the training of the cable therethrough longitudinally thereof and within its confines, suitable guides G and H being located respectively below the medial portion of the handle bar and at the upper end thereof with a cable locking means at the upper end of the handle bar and the cable being provided with a pull handle.

The foregoing description is given to substantially describe the type of stopper device upon which the present invention is an improvement and the improvement has to do with an improved means for mounting-the stopper device in or on the gas main, as well as serving the additional function of closing and sealing the tap hole to accomplish the prevention of the escape or leakage of gas from the main as expeditiously as possible. As shown, the improvement consists in providing the medial portion of the handle bar with a tubular cylindrical shank 5, which accommodates therethrough the cable F. A tap hole plug 6 is arranged upon the shank 5 in such a manner as to permit of relative sliding and turning movement between the shank and the plug, suitable stops 7 and 8 being provided for limiting the longitudinal movement of the shank with reference to the plug.

In the particular form of the invention illus trated, the plug body is externally screw threaded at 9 and is provided with a reduced upwardly projecting tool engaging extension 10 by virtue of which the plug may be rotated to thread the same within the threads of the tap hole 13.

In the use of the device, after the threaded tap hole B has been formed in the main C, the stopper body A is introduced therethrough by first initially inserting the same in the manner illustrated in full lines and then the device is moved to the position illustrated in broken lines in Fig. 1. The plug 6 is then threaded into the tap hole thereby anchoring or connecting the handle bar D to the gas main C. Due to the mounting of the handle bar, it will be found in practice that when an upward pull is exerted on the flexible element or cable, the handle bar is free to slide longitudinally through the plug and is free to turn with reference thereto, thus insuring the movement and expansion of the stopper body A to an effectual sealing position, after which the cable looking or clamping means is manipulated to clamp and retain the device in sealing position. In other words, due to the manner in which the shank of the handle bar is mounted within the plug, the stopper body finds its way more rapidly and effectually to the sealing position where its periphery intimately contacts with the bore of the gas main.

What is claimed is:

1. A gas main stopper which includes a stopper body adapted to be inserted endwise through an aperture in the gas main and having a handle for manipulating the stopper body to effect its emplacement in the main, a device on the handle constituting a common means for detachably afiixing the handle to the main and simultaneously plugging the aperture, said device including a plug for securement in said aperture, said plug having an opening extending therethrough in which opening the said handle is slidably and guidedly fitted, stop means for limiting the sliding of said handle in one direction, a bore extending through said handle and a flexible element attached to said stopper and slidable in said bore for positioning said stopper in said main.

2. A gas main stopper which includes an expansible stopper body adapted to be inserted endwise in an aperture in the gas main and having a handle for manipulating the stopper to efiect its emplacement through said aperture in the gas main, and a flexible element for expanding the stopper body, a device on the handle constituting a common means for detachably aflixing the handle to the main and simultaneously plugging the aperture, said device including a plug for securement in said aperture and having an opening extending therethrough, and said handle being provided intermediate its ends with a tubular shank portion having an enlarged inner end, said flexible element being reaved through the opening in the said shank and connected at its inner end to the said stopper body and said shank portion being slidably fitted in the opening in the plug whereby the stopper is supported and guided by the plug to an expanding sealing relation with the gas main when a pull is exerted on the flexible element.

ELIZABETH A. GOODMAN. 

